Just spell the name correctly

P. T. Barnum, the great circus impresario, was once accosted* by a woman who showed him a

scurrilous* manuscript about himself, and said that unless he paid her, she would have the

book printed. Barnum rejected the extortion attempt. “Say what you please,” he replied, “but

make sure that you mention me in some way. Then come to me and I will estimate the value of

your services as a publicity agent.” Barnum obviously felt that adverse criticism was an asset

for a public figure. A man who seeks the limelight should not care what is written about him

but should be concerned only when they stop writing about him. Barnum’s philosophy

suggests that we might do well to review the plethora* of publicity given to rabble-rousers

and bigots.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. When the business manager was accused of ________________, his colleagues sought

to oust* him from the firm.

2. The eminent* ________________ brought many cultural spectacles to our shores.

3. Attacked by the irate* crowd, the ________________ asked the police for sanctuary.*

4. President Obama found that texting was an ________________ to his communication

skills.

5. It was excruciatingly* painful for the actors to read the ________________ reviews that

their performances had received.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. impresario a. a narrow-minded, prejudiced person

7. extortion b. unfavorable, harmful

8. adverse c. one who presents cultural series, organizer

9. asset d. a valuable thing to have

10. bigot e. getting money by threats

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to spill the beans —to give away a secret

Although he was naturally reticent,* when the felon* was intimidated* by the members of

the rival gang, he spilled the beans.

N EW W ORDS

Blatant

blāt´ nt

Entourage

än´ tü räzh

Virulent

vir´ yə lent

Venom

ven´ əm

Spew

spyü

W EEK 9 D AY 2

BIGOTS* GET PUBLICITY

Today, the blatant bigot, the leader of a lunatic fringe, and the hate-monger, each with his tiny

entourage, find it relatively easy to attract publicity. Newspapers give space to the virulent

activities of those agitators on the grounds that they are newsworthy. TV producers and radio

executives, seeking for sensationalism, often extend a welcome to such controversial

characters. “Yes,” said the host of one such program, “we invite bigots, but it is only for the

purpose of making them look ridiculous by displaying their inane* policies to the public.”

Some civic-minded organizations have answered, however, that the hosts are not always

equipped to demolish those guests, and even if they were, the audience would still be exposed

to the venom they spew forth.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The visiting dictator ’s ubiquitous* ________________ of bodyguards disturbed our

tranquil* city.

2. Europe’s population was afflicted* by a ________________ plague known as the Black

Death.

3. From each candidate’s headquarters acrimonious* charges would ________________

forth daily.

4. Clym Yeobright’s mother succumbed* to the ________________ of a snake bite.

5. With ________________ discourtesy the reporters continued to harass* the bereaved

family.

Definitions Match the new words with their meanings.

6. blatant a. group of attendants

7. entourage b. disagreeably loud, very showy

8. virulent c. poison, spite, malice

9. venom d. throw up, vomit, eject

10. spew e. full of hate, harmful

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to keep a stiff upper lip —to be courageous in the face of trouble

It was admirable to see how the British managed to keep a stiff upper lip in spite of the

German bombing.

N EW W ORDS

Loath

lōth

Solicit

sə lis´ it

Astute

ə stüt´ or ə styüt´

Advocate

ad´ və kāt

Ineffectual

in´ ə fek´ chü l

W EEK 9 D AY 3

COPING WITH BIGOTS*

Suppose a bigot wished to organize a meeting in your neighborhood. Since we cherish

freedom of speech, we are loath to deny the request, even if he preaches hatred. As a result,

hate-mongers are given the opportunity to rent halls, conduct meetings, publish abusive

literature, and solicit contributions. What can be done about them? One astute observer, Prof.

S. Andhil Fineberg, advocates the “quarantine method.” His plan is to give such groups no

publicity and to ignore them completely. Without the warmth of the spotlight, he feels that the

bigot will freeze and become ineffectual. Debating with such warped minds is not feasible*

and only tends to exacerbate* the situation.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. Since we felt that the ruling was arbitrary,* we were ________________ to obey it.

2. Daily the volunteers went out to ________________ funds for the indigent* families.

3. My neighbor was ________________ enough to discern* the adverse* features of the

mortgage.

4. The general was sure to ________________ that we give the enemy no respite* from

the bombings.

5. The play was so blatantly* bad that the impresario* fired its ________________

director.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. loath a. keen, shrewd

7. solicit b. to be in favor of, to support

8. astute c. not effective

9. advocate (v.) d. unwilling, reluctant

10. ineffectual e. to beg, seek earnestly

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to have cold feet —to hesitate because of fear or uncertainty

My cousin was all set to join the paratroops, but at the last moment he got cold feet.

N EW W ORDS

Scrutinize

skrüt´ n īz

Nefarious

ni fer´ ē əs

Amicable

am´ ə kə bəl

Vexatious

vek sā´ shəs

Malady

mal´ ə dē

W EEK 9 D AY 4

MORE THAN SILENCE

The quarantine method for handling bigots implies more than giving them the silent

treatment. Prof. Fineberg urges community-relations organizations to scrutinize the nefarious

activities of hate-mongers and to be prepared to furnish information about them to amicable

inquirers. When a rabble-rouser is coming, those organizations should privately expose him

to opinion-molders. In addition, constructive efforts should be taken to induce people to

involve themselves in projects for improving intergroup relations. Bigger than the vexatious

immediate problem is the need to find out the cause for such bigotry and to counteract this

sinister* malady that afflicts* a segment of our society.

Sample Sentences Use the new words in the following sentences.

1. The ________________ buzzing of the mosquitoes as they surged* about our heads

nearly drove us insane.

2. Our ________________ relations with Latin America are an asset* to hemispheric

trade.

3. Once the virulent* ________________ had run its course, my temperature dropped.

4. We were distraught* upon hearing the venom* spewed* forth by the

________________ bigot.*

5. No sooner did the lawyer ________________ the extortion* note than she called the

police.

Definitions Match the new words with their definitions.

6. scrutinize a. annoying

7. nefarious b. villainous, vicious

8. amicable c. examine closely

9. vexatious d. disease

10. malady e. friendly, peaceful

T ODAY ’ S I DIOM

to look a gift horse in the mouth —to be critical of a present

(from the practice of judging a horse’s age by his teeth)

Although I didn’t have much use for Uncle Roy’s present, I took it with a big smile since

I have been taught never to look a gift horse in the mouth.

W EEK 9 D AY 5

REVIEW

There is an excellent book entitled How to Argue with a Conservative that gives the reader the

tools necessary for success in argumentation. At times you may have to engage in a verbal

skirmish* with a bigot.* It would be to your advantage if you had the proper words at your

fingertips.

Match the twenty words with their meanings. *Reminder: Record answers on a sheet of paper.

REVIEW WORDS DEFINITIONS

1. adverse a. to support

2. advocate b. keen, shrewd

3. amicable c. something of value

4. asset d. villainous

5. astute e. seek earnestly

6. bigot f. organizer

7. blatant g. annoying

8. entourage h. followers

9. extortion i. disagreeably loud

10. impresario j. examine closely

11. ineffectual k. poison

12. loath l. harmful

13. malady m. not effective

14. nefarious n. prejudiced person

15. scrutinize o. unfavorable

16. solicit p. friendly

17. spew q. unwilling

18. venom r. vomit

19. vexatious s. disease

20. virulent t. getting money by threats

IDIOMS

21. to spill the beans u. to be critical of a present

22. stiff upper lip v. hesitation because of fear

23. cold feet w. courage in the face of trouble

24. look a gift horse in the mouth x. give away a secret

Make a record of those words you missed. Once again, use those words in original sentences.

*For reference only

WORDS FOR

FURTHER STUDY MEANINGS

1. _________________________ _________________________

2. _________________________ _________________________

3. _________________________ _________________________

WORDSEARCH 9

Using the clues listed below, record separately using one of the new words you learned this

week for each blank in the following story.

Clues

4th Day

4th Day

2nd Day

3rd Day

4th Day